Target practice device



United States Patent [72] Inventors mum can, 131, vim; Josef Eichberger, Vosslauer Strasse 18, Baden near Vienna, Austria AppLNo. 735,596

Filed June 10, I968 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 Assignee said Eichberger assignor to saidStossl Priority June20, 1967 Austria No. A5,734/67 TARGET PRACTICE DEVICE 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. I

U.S. 273/1013, 35/25 Int. A63f9/02 Field oI'Seareh 273/1012, 105.6, 105.2; 35/25 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,574 8ll9l3 Parker 273/l0l.2

Arnold smu llllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1,092,425 4/1914 Bohn 273/101.2x 1,954,509 4/1934 Yates 273/1012 3/1958 Hamilton 213/1os.2x

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Attorney-Benjamin .l. Barish ABSTRACT: A target practice device is described for use in fixed aiming target practice, comprising a target disk movable in front of a target sheet and formed with a central opening for either direction by an electric motor and a nut connected to I the assembly moved by its drive. Also described are means, e.g. the trigger of the rifle aiming device, for actuating a marking device, and means for automatically restoring the target disk to its initial position.

WWW 8mm 3545759 SHEET 1 OF 2 fly m g 22 6 E 5 0G llllllllllll 7t FIG 2 1 W f6 INVENTORS A RNOLD STOSSL JOSEF EICHBERGER PATENTEUUEE we I 3.7545759 sum 2 BF 2 INVENTORS A R NOLD STOSSL I y JOSEF EICHBERGER ATTORNEY TARGET PRACTICE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to target practice devices, particularly for use in the triangulation method of fixed aiming target practice.

2. Description of the PriorArt During the training of recruits or beginners, they usually engage in aiming practice onlyso as to save ammunition. In the triangulationmethod of fixed aiming target practice, the fixed aiming device, e.g. a rifle supported on a sand bag or other fixed support, is aimed by the trainee at a target disk held by an assistant by means of a long handle in front of a white target sheet. This target disk is generally in the form of a round metal sheet of about cm. diameter having at its centera black" painted bullseye and a small hole through which a marking'pencil can be passed. The trainee indicates, by signs or calls, to the assistant for the latter to move the tar-' get disk in the proper direction until the trainee feels the bulls eye in in the line of his sights; The assistant then marks the point on the target sheet bymeans of a pencil or other marking device passed through the hole in the bulls eye.

This is repeated three times and theoretically the three points should coincide since the position of the rifle has not been changed. However only in very rare cases is the coincidence of the three points actually reached. Where the points do not coincide, they are connected by lines forming 'a triangle, and the smaller the triangle, the better was the aiming ability of the trainee. In this manner, the trainee maybe classified according to his aiming ability, and also his progress may be followed without expending expensive ammunition.

One of the drawbacks of th this method is the need for an assistant for each trainee, apart from the instructor. In addition. even with trained personnel it may happen that the target disk is slightly shifted while passing the pencil through the hole in the center thereof, and the'result obtained would thus not indicate the true condition of the trainees aiming ability.

Another arrangement is known wherein a target sheet on which a target has been indicated is shifted by the trainee'himself withthe aid of pulling cords to one or the other direction untilhe believes the target to bein line with the sights. The

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a target practice device in which the target disk may be remotely controlled by the trainee, or user, in a very simple manner.

According to the present invention, is provided a target practice device for use in fixed aiming target practice, comprising a movable target disk and a target sheet disposed behind the movable target disk, the target disk being formed with a central opening for marking on the target sheet, as in the known arrangements. Here, however, there are provided a paid of rails extending perpendicular to each other, the target disk being movable on one of the rails in one direction and the latter railbeing movable with the target disk on the other rail in a perpendicular direction. A. pair of screwshafts are provided each extending parallel to one ofthe rails there being an electric motor for driving each of the screw shafts. Further, a nut is fixedly carried by the target disk and is movable by one of the screw shafts for moving the target disk along the one rail, and a second nut is'fixedly carried by the one rail and is movable by the other screw shaft for moving the one rail and the target disk along the other rail. A switch is further provided for controlling each of the electric motors.

the invention provides means operable'after the marking has been effected to automatically return the target disk to its initial position at the edge of the target sheet.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, somewhat diagrammatically and for purposes of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I illustrates a target practice device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the aiming device, namely a fixed rifle, for use with the target practice device of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of the target practice device of FIGS. land 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT each extending parallel to one of the guide rails 6, 7. To each of the screw shafts is coupled a reversable electric motor 10, 1 l, controllable by the user, i.e., the trainee or the aiming person. A nut 12, 13 is threaded'on-each of screw shafts 8, 9. .Nut 12 is fixed to the end of'bar 14 which carries disk 3. Bar 14 also carries a sleeve 6a through which rail 6 passes. Thus, bar 14 and disk 3 are moved as a unit up and down on rail 6.

Rail 6 is connected by a connecting piece 8a to screw shaft -8, and the latter assembly is movable on rail 7 by means of three sleeves 7a through which rail 7 passes, these sleeves being affixed to a plate 7b on which motor 10 is-supported.

' The drive shaft of motor 10 is perpendicular to screw shaft 8 and drives the latter .by a bevel .gear 10a. The middle one of the sleeves 7a is fixedly connected by a connecting piece 7c to nut 13 whereby theassembly carried on rail 6 may be moved along rail 7 in a'direction perpendicular to rail 6.

.During target practice; the trainee looks through the customary sights l5, 16 provided on the rifle 17 (FIG. 2). The rifle is fixedly held in a holding arrangement 18 of customary design and is built in such a way that after release of the hold ing clamps (not shown) the rifle can be swung upwardly as well as laterally. In this way, the rifle can be aimed by the instructor at a chosen point on sheet 2 and can be fixed in position. It is of course possible to use other aiming devices.

Electric motors l0 and 11 may be controlled by the trainee e.g. by a four-way switch 19, FIG. 3, to be described below),

' so as to move the target disk up, down, left or right. Thereby it According to another feature of the invention, there is also becomes possible to locate the target disk 3 onto any chosen point of the target sheet 2. If the target disk is in a position which gives the trainee reasonable certainty that a round from rifle 17 would hit the center of the disk 3, that is to say that this disk is in coincidence with the line of vision, the trainee can mark this point on the target sheet. To this end he operates a switch, preferably by pressing the trigger of the rifle as will be described below, which actuates a marking device 20 provided on the target disk 3 to mark a point on sheet 2 through opening'Zl in the center of the disk. This may be effected by actuating an electromagnet or motor to move a pencil or stylus against the sheet. Once the marking has been completed, target disk 3 returns automatically to the initial or zero position illustrated in FIG. 1.

Two signal lamps 22- (FIG. I.) may be provided, one of which may be red and theother white. These lamps could be wired so that the red lamp is energized during aiming, and the white lamp is energized after termination of the marking. This arrangement facilitates the tasks of a supervising person and gives a better pictureof the stages and conditions of the practice.

FIG. 3 illustrates a wiring diagram in which the target device 4 is automatically returned with the return of the rifle trigger, or other button used for operating the marking arrangement. The return of the target device 4 is effected by motors 10 and 11 which are energized upon the return of the rifle trigger, these motors being deenergized by two contacts A, and A which are opened when the target disk 3 returns to its initial position, i.e. its uppennost position at the right-hand side of sheet 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

More particularly, the trainee directs the target disk 3 to the desired position by operating four-way switch 19 to supply current to the fields F of motors l and 11 in the forward or reverse direction. As soon as the target disk leaves its initial position, contacts Al and A2 close. When the disk arrives to the position which the trainee feels is in alinement with the rifle sights, he presses the rifle trigger, operating switch 2, which thereby energizes relays B and C, and also energizes the actuator M (e.g. a solenoid or motor) of the marking device 20, which applies a mark through the central opening of the target disk 3 onto the sheet 2. When the trainee releases the rifle trigger, the switch Z returns to its initial position as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Energization of relays B and C causes their holding contacts Bs, Cs to be actuated, thereby retaining the energization of the relays even when the rifle trigger and the switch Z return to their initial position. I

Energization of relays B and C also causes their contacts B and C l to close, these contacts being in the circuits of relays E and D. However, the latter relays are not energized until the rifle trigger and switch 2 return to their initial positions. As soon as this occurs, relays E and D are energized through switch Z, closing their contacts El. 2, D,, D and opening their contacts E 5,, D and D Closing contacts E,, 5,, D, and D causes the motors and 11 to operate to return the target disk 3 to its initial position. During this return of the target disk, the four-way switch 19 is disconnected from the motor control circuits by the opening of contacts E 5,, D, and D When the target disk 3 is returned to its initial position, contacts A and A are automatically opened, thereby deenergizing relays B and C, caus-' by the trainee.

It is preferable to use a low voltage power supply, e.g. a battery power supply or an AC power supply fed through a lowvoltage transfonner.

The invention may be practiced in various manners. For example, the motors may 'be operated by a portable wireless transmitter. it will be seen that extra personnel for working the target disk is not required and that one instructor is sufficient to supervise several targets. Instead of a single target sheet, there may be used a block of sheets, one being removed by each person engaging in the target practice.

I Many modifications, variations, and other applications of the illustrated embodiment may be made.

We claim:

1. A target practice device for use in fixed aiming target practice, comprising: a target disk movable in the horizontal and vertical directions; a target sheet disposed behind said movable target disk, said target disk being formed with a central opening for marking on the target sheet; an electrical motor drive for moving the target disk in the horizontal and vertical directions from an initial position; an electric switch for actuating said electric motor drive to move said target disk returning the target disk to its initial position after actuation of ing the latter to open their contacts 8, C thereby also deener I gizing relays E and D. The deenergization of the latter relays causes their contacts 5,, E 0,, D to open, thereby terminating the operation of the motors 10 and 11, and also causes their contacts 5,, 5,, D D to close, connecting the four-way switch 19 into the motor control circuits for operation again the marking device. I I I I 2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said target dlSk IS movably supported by means of a pair of rails extending perpendicular to each other, said target disk being movable on one of said rails in one direction, said one rail being movable with said target disk on the other rail in the other of said directions. I

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said electric motor drive comprises a pair of screw shafts each extending parallel to one of said rails, an electric motor for driving each of said screw shafts, a nut fixedly carried by said target disk and movable by one of said screw shafts for moving the target disk along said one rail, and a second nut fixedly carried by said one rail and movable by the other of said screw shafts for moving said one rail and the target disk along said other rail.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, further including a rifle serving for' the fixed aiming, said means for actuating the marking device being the trigger of said rifle. 

